Zanco Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences

Analysis of human sequence polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable segment 1 (HV1) has become a significant technique in forensic casework and is used for genetic diversity and human evolution evaluation, consanguinity identification, and mitochondrial illness diagnosis. The present study aimed to provide insights into the demographic history and origins of the Kurdish people in the Iraqi Kurdistan region by analyzing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variations, particularly focusing on hypervariable segment 1 (HVS I). The HVS I of mtDNA was sequenced in 120 unrelated individuals from the Kurdish population by using Sangar sequencing. The study\\'s findings reveal significant genetic diversity among the Kurdish population\\'s HVS I of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The sequence of HVS I within the non-coding region had 413 mutations across 402 sites, resulting in 111 different haplotypes, as compared to the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS) to gauge genetic diversity and community variety. Comparing this population sample to rCRS, the mutations found were (17.055%) transition and (0.921%) transversion. The phylogenetic tree for the Kurdistan region revealed a considerable degree of community variety. In order to determine the Kurdish ancestry and demographic history in the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan, the results also showed that the mtDNA haplotypes were classified into mtDNA haplogroups. The most frequent haplogroups were U, H, J, and HV, with frequencies of 22.5%, 19.2%, 14.5%, and 12.9%, respectively; nevertheless, T and N had a moderate prevalence of 8% and 6.4%, respectively. The haplotype results exhibited that Europe and India had the most genetic diversity in common with the Kurdish people of Iraqi Kurdistan. The findings will contribute to a better knowledge of Kurdish mitochondrial genome diversity, as well as to demographic history and forensic science.

An optimized extraction method incorporating maceration has been employed to isolate bioactive compounds from four seed types: black and white grape seeds, and ajwa and barhi date seeds. These extracted materials were evaluated for antioxidant and antibacterial activities, along with quantification analysis performing of total phenolics, flavonoids, betalains, chlorophyll (a and b), carotenoids, anthocyanins, and mineral content. UV-VIS spectrophotometry was revealed a high phenolic concentration across all samples, showing (729.49±14.50 mg/g dry Weight (DW)), (660.80±8.82 mg/g of DW), (658.24±0.37 mg/g of DW), (643.78±2.39 mg/g of DW) black grape seed, white grape seed, barhi date seed and ajwa date seed respectively. Additionally, flavonoids showed significant levels, particularly in black grape (41.99±0.06 mg/g DW) and ajwa date seeds (41.5±0.05 mg/g DW). While other phytochemicals were revealed in lower concentrations. Phytochemicals such as anthocyanin, betalain, carotenoid, chlorophyll a and b were found in smaller amounts. Also, GC–MS analysis was employed to identify and characterize bioactive compounds in the extracts. The results revealed a variety of phytochemicals, including several previously unreported compounds. The evaluated antioxidant activity of the four seed extracts varied between 72.43% and 91.28%, signifying substantial radical scavenging capability. Antibacterial effect was evaluated using five bacterial strains confirmed inhibitory effects of the extracts. Mineral profiling via ICP-MS identified potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, and magnesium as dominant elements across all seed types. These findings underscore the nutritional and therapeutic potential of grape and date seeds as sources of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) remains a significant challenge in clinical hematology due to its complex mechanisms of immune evasion and resistance to treatment. The identification of reliable biomarkers is critical for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the diagnostic and prognostic value of three biomarkers—Galectin-9 (Gal-9), Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), and ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) gene expression—in ALL patients. A total of 40 ALL patients (25 treated and 15 in the first diagnosis group) and 25 healthy controls were enrolled. Total RNA extracted from peripheral blood. Complementarydeoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) synthesized with reverse transcriptase. The synthesized cDNA is amplified by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).The findings were normalized to the Beta-2-Microglobulin (β2M) reference gene. One-way ANOVA was performed to analyze gene expression between groups, while correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed clinical parameters and diagnostic potential. Gal-9 levels were elevated in untreated patients (p < 0.05), whereas CTLA-4 expression was reduced in untreated patients (p < 0.01). ABCB1 levels were high in both groups (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between CTLA-4 and ABCB1 (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001), and moderate correlations were found with Gal-9 (r = 0.35, p = 0.029) and ABCB1 (r = 0.38, p = 0.016). These findings underscore the potential of Gal-9, CTLA-4, and ABCB1 as valuable biomarkers in ALL, with CTLA-4 showing the highest diagnostic potential and ABCB1confirms its role in chemoresistance.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as two or more failed pregnancies before 20 weeks of gestation. Genetic polymorphisms, especially alterations in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene, may increase the risk of pregnancy loss. This study aimed to investigate the connection between changes in the VEGF-A gene (-460C/T, -1190A/G, and -1154A/G) and RPL in women from the Erbil Province. The study included 60 women with a history of RPL and 30 healthy women with no history of miscarriage. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood samples. The VEGF-A promoter region was amplified using Touchdown PCR, and the resulting PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and then processed for Sanger sequencing. Statistical analysis was performed using Yates-corrected χ² tests or Fisher\'s exact tests for small sample sizes. The results demonstrated that the -460 TT genotype was markedly more prevalent in RPL patients than in controls, increasing the risk by 3.3 times. The -460T allele significantly increased the probability of RPL (OR = 3.3, p = 0.0025, 95% CI: 1.49–7.29). For the -1190A/G polymorphism, the homozygous GG genotype was more prevalent in RPL cases, and the -1190G allele was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.64, p = 0.0138, 95% CI: 1.26–5.52), identifying it as the risk allele for this SNP. In contrast, the -1154A/G polymorphism showed no significant differences in either genotype or allele frequencies between RPL cases and controls (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that some genotypic alterations, notably -460 TT and -1190 GG, may act as genetic risk factors for RPL.

Immunosenescence, or immunological aging, is a condition in which the immune system's ability to operate declines with age. One important indicator of a diseased or healthy state is the shift in immunological phenotype. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of aging on human peripheral lymphocytes. The population of the old age group consisted of 61- to 92 year-old individuals of both genders and without chronic diseases. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 75 cases of old age in the EDTA tube, the examination of immunophenotype was carried out using flow cytometry. There was a significant decrease in CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and naïve T cell populations (naïve CD4+, naïve CD8+) in the old age group. However, there was not a significant change in the CD4+ cells, followed by a significant increase in the ratio of CD4:CD8 T cells. On the other hand, memory T cells (memory CD4+, memory CD8+) and NK cells increased significantly with age group. In conclusion, this study depicts the dynamic change of T lymphocyte subsets and NK cells by aging; these alterations revealed impairment of cellular immunity in the elderly population and increased susceptibility of the aged body to developing diseases.

Esophageal motility disorders impair normal peristalsis of the esophagus and often lead to dysphagia and represent a clinically significant problem with increasing recognition worldwide. These disorders are commonly encountered in patients presenting with esophageal symptoms, yet their true prevalence remains underreported, particularly in regions where diagnostic facilities are limited including Erbil, Kurdistan region-Iraq. Understanding their burden is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. The study aims to clarify the prevalence of oesophagal motility disorders among participants with dysphagia and to study the sensitivity of the diagnostic methods. Additionally, to illustrate demographic, clinical, lifestyle, and psychosocial characteristics of esophageal dysmotility (ED) patients with confirmed esophageal motility disorders. A case-series study was conducted from June 2024 to June 2025 at the Hawler Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology. A total of 113 adult participants with dysphagia underwent a standardized diagnostic workup including esophageal gastroduodenoscopy (EGD), barium swallow and manometry. Participants with confirmed esophageal motility disorders on manometry were classified as a patient group, while participants without motility disorders served as controls. Data on demographics, medical history, clinical symptoms, lifestyle habits, and psychosocial impact were collected via structured questionnaires. Among participants with dysphagia (113), manometry identified oesophagal motility disorders in 67 (59.3%) of cases, with 22 EGJ outflow obstruction (19.46%) and 21 achalasia (18.58%) being the most common findings. Regurgitation (n=47, 70.15%), vomiting (n=45, 67.16%), and weight loss (n=51, 76.11%) were significantly more prevalent in ED group compared to controls. Alcohol use was lower in ED group, while smoking and hot drink intake were similar. Psychosocial burden, including emotional distress (n=47), impaired quality of life (n=49), and altered eating behaviors (n=34), was significantly greater (p-value <0.0001) in ED group. More than half of ED patients presented with dysphagia are manifested in esophageal dysmotility. Manometry being the gold standard in diagnosis of this group. Lifestyles were more prevalent in such patients. Dysphagia due to motility disorders is associated with older age, specific gastrointestinal symptoms, and a significant psychosocial impact.

Natural radioactivity is present in all food types, including rice, and gradually enters the body through the digestive tract. An important metric for estimating population exposure from natural radionuclide intake during regular food consumption is the amount of natural radioactivity present in food. This study used a gamma-ray spectrometer to evaluate the radioactivity levels of naturally occurring radioactive elements in rice samples available in Erbil markets. The 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K activity concentration values in rice samples were within the range (0.212 ± 0.023 to 0.671 ± 0.160) Bq kg-1, (0.104 ± 0.018 to 0.289 ± 0.025) Bq kg-1, and (48.677 ± 3.534 to 153.876 ± 3.885) Bq kg-1, respectively. The activity concentration of the primordial radionuclides was used to determine the annual effective radiation doses from eating rice samples. The total annual effective dosage (IAED) resulting from taking radioactive nuclear in rice varied from (16.600 ± 2.511 to 44.873 ± 2.688) µSv y-1, with the average value of (27.407 ± 7.862) µSv y-1, and was below the UNSCEAR reference limit of 290 µSv y-1. Additionally, the parameters for radiological hazards in rice grains were computed and compared to the international dose safety limit for rice crops.

In this paper, we present the structure of the maximal ideal graph of the ring . Several graph properties are given including completeness, planarity, separability. Furthermore, we show that is Hamiltonian, and Eulerian under certain conditions. We also compute the degree of vertices, size, circumference, girth, and clique number of for specific types of n. Finally, we find Hosoya polynomial of which depends on both degree of vertices and size of the graph for certain values of n.

The Nonhomogeneous Poisson Process (NHPP), characterized by rate functions that vary over time, is generally used to model the occurrence of events over time. A key challenge lies in accurately estimating the intensity function that derive the process. This paper focuses on estimating the parameters of a log-linear intensity function using the traditional Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), Method of Moments (MoM) and two intelligent optimization techniques - Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Firefly Algorithm (FFA). The objective is to evaluate and compare these estimation methods to identify the most effective approach, followed by the application of a NHPP to model the number of passenger arrivals at Erbil International Airport (EIA) - an important factor for improving airport facility planning. The analysis utilizes passenger arrival data recorded at Erbil International Airport (EIA) in Kurdistan Region (KR) of Iraq from January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2024. The passenger arrival rate is initially analyzed through a homogeneity test, and then the Cross-Validation technique is applied to evaluate the model's predictive performance. Additionally, two simulation techniques are employed to assess the performance of the estimation methods by calculating the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The findings reveal that the PSO technique outperforms MLE, MoM and FFA, providing more accurate parameter estimates and faster convergence for the log-linear model.

Inadequate or harmful methods of handling solid waste pose threats to both the environment and public health. As the global population has grown, the production of waste has also increased significantly. Estimating future rates of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation might encourage analysis of gaps in the current waste management and more accurate planning techniques. The main objectives of this study were to assess current status of municipal solid waste management (MSWM): to plan future improvements, advise and promote sustainable waste management solutions, and to predict the quantity of MSW produced from 2025 to 2050 with population growth in Halabja province. The findings indicated that the mean solid waste generation reached 42 tons per day and 1.048 kg per capita per day in 2023.The generation rate (GR) from 2016 to 2023 has increased by 14.88%. The study predicted that the daily waste generation would arrive 306 tons/day and 1.0897 Kg/Capita/Day by 2050. In the Halabja city, an increase in MSW has caused environmental issues. As a result, the MSW disposal site had a significant negative impact on the surrounding areas, including air, water, and soil contamination. The situation of municipal solid waste management in the Halabja city was made clear in this article, and it also provided a thorough analysis and implications of the poor solid waste management in the research area.

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is considered a multipurpose plant with numerous applications and health benefits due to its high nutritional antioxidant, rich in fiber, and vitamins A and C. This study was conducted to determine the optimal harvesting time for sweet potato (Jewel Yams variety) cultivated for the first time in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The study was conducted in a RCBD (randomized block design), with five treatments which were harvested in different interval times (70, 90, 110, 130, and 150 days), 7 plants per plot, and 3 replications. After each interval of harvesting, the total yield, individual weight, size, and number of sweet potatoes per plot, as well as sweet potato quality attributes such as sugar content, were assessed using a digital refractometer (ATAGO 3810 PAL-1). The results showed that harvesting time significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected the yield performance of the sweet potatoes. The highest values of tuber weight (265.81 g/plant), average length (36.55 cm), width (36.35 mm), sugar content (6.34%), and total weight per plot (2.79 kg) were recorded in plots harvested 150 days (150 HD). While number of fruits per plant reached a maximum (4.86) in samples harvested after 130 days. In addition, the trends of increasing the total yield per plot compared to the earliest harvest (70 days) are as follows: 349%, 843%, 871%, and 2495% for 90, 110, 130, and 150 days, respectively. It can be concluded that harvesting times have considerable potential for enhancing sweet potato traits in terms of yield and quality. Consequently, this study suggest that farmers may base decisions upon the ultimate tuber size, degree of sweetness, and overall yield per unit area, harvesting at 130–150 days after planting, depending on the tuber maximum or quantity of interest. It is, therefore, concluded that the practice of sweet potato harvest for marketing purposes must be prolonged to 150 days for the KRI to achieve high market quality and profitability.

Exponential growth in IoT application involves managing latency, resource utilization and reliability in traditional cloud based architectures. In this research, we present a dynamic IoT-Fog-Cloud architecture using fuzzy logic, DQN and MOEA/D to optimize QoS metrics in real time. The real-time tasks generated by simulated IoT devices are falling through fuzzy logic at the Fog Master node and classified according to urgency. DQN schedules tasks dynamically so that during runtime it discovers optimal tasks solution on a set of Fog nodes. Resource allocation is enhanced by MOEA/D balancing computational loads with trade-off between latency, reliability and resource utilization. Here, we compare static and cloud-only architectures and show comparative simulations in iFogSim tool that achieve 28% reduction in latency, 19% increase in reliability and 22% improvement in resource utilization. The system’s hierarchical adaptive nature provides for an efficient task processing that is scalable and with superior QoS for IoT applications. The proposed framework is a scalable, robust and efficient means by which one can run real-time IoT tasks in fog-cloud computing environments by synergizing advanced deep learning and evolutionary algorithms.

A reinforced concrete corbel is a short cantilever structural member extending from columns or walls, resisting mostly vertical loads by shear action. The paper presents an experimental investigation on the shear behavior of reinforced concrete corbels reinforced longitudinally with Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars as an alternative material to conventional steel reinforcement. Eight double-sided reinforced concrete corbels measured 180mmx300mm and a central column segment 180mmx300mm, with different longitudinal reinforcement of BFRP ratios (1pb, 1.57pb, 3.15pb, and 5.6pb) and shear span-to-depth ratios (a/d = 1.0 and 1.25) were tested under an experimental program. In specimens with a/d = 1.0, an increase in reinforcement ratio to 5.6pb resulted in an ultimate shear strength increase by 34.25%. Nevertheless, at the higher shear span-to-depth ratio (a/d = 1.25), the largest shear strength increased about 67.6% at 3.15pb, beyond this ratio, the shear strength significantly decreased to 42.7% at 5.6pb, indicating reaching the optimal limit. These results validate the efficiency of utilizing BFRP reinforced polymer bars to increase shear capacity in concrete corbels and choosing the reinforcement ratio to induce optimal structural behavior.

Conventional water treatment plants (WTPs) typically involve two primary processes: turbidity removal and disinfection. This study evaluates the turbidity removal efficiency and the effectiveness of chlorination using daily records collected over one year from two WTPs, Dokan-1 and Dokan-2, located in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Results of the study indicate mean turbidity removal efficiencies of 23.8% for Dokan-1 and 37.4% for Dokan-2. Although these values appear low, the performance of both plants is considered acceptable, as the 95th percentile of influent water turbidity during the study year was 9.46 NTU. The findings suggest that high turbidity removal efficiency is not expected when raw water turbidity is below 10 NTU. Therefore, assessing efficiency without considering influent turbidity is not a reliable approach. Throughout the study year of 2023, the average effluent turbidity values remained below the permissible limit of 5 NTU, with Dokan-1 and Dokan-2 recording averages of 3.27 NTU and 2.95 NTU, respectively. A one-sample t-test confirmed that effluent turbidity from both plants was significantly below the 5 NTU threshold. Turbidity removal efficiency can be calculated using two methods: (1) the mean of daily efficiencies which is the average of daily efficiencies, and (2) the efficiency based on average influent and effluent turbidity values. This study recommends the second method for evaluating conventional WTPs. Additionally, disinfection was successful in both plants, with average daily free chlorine concentrations of 1.41 mg/L for Dokan-1 and 2.26 mg/L for Dokan-2.

This study addresses the challenge of predicting C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by integrating tabular-to-image transformation techniques with transfer learning architectures. Utilizing a dataset of 838 clinical records, three encoding methods (Zero-padded Grid, Recurrence Plot or Gramian Angular Field) were applied to convert tabular clinical data into two-dimensional images. ResNet50 and Vision Transformer, two pre-trained models, were employed. Notably, the findings of this study suggested that predictive accuracy is highly influenced by both the model architecture and image encoding technique. The integration of spatial encoding with Vision Transformer-based models presents a promising direction for non-invasive, data-driven inflammation monitoring in diabetic care. The Vision Transformer model paired with Zero-Padded Grid achieved the highest performance, with a test accuracy of 97.62% and an F1-score of 0.90, demonstrating strong discriminative capacity with AUC values exceeding 0.99 across all classes, the Gramian Angular Field encoding image technique with the Vision Transformer model combination also demonstrated strong results, with an average AUC of 0.98, slightly higher than Zero-Padded Grid with Vision Transformer model.

Construction activities generate large quantities of waste materials, creating significant challenges for waste management and environmental sustainability. This study investigates the feasibility of reusing coarse-grained construction waste deposited in a landfill as a foundation for lightweight residential buildings. To assess its long-term engineering performance, in-situ plate load tests were carried out on landfill material that had been in place for approximately ten years, as well as on the underlying natural coarse- and fine-grained soils after removal of the landfill. The tests were performed under three ground conditions: natural moisture content, submerged conditions after three days of inundation, and full landfill flooding achieved by filling a surrounding trench with water once the applied stress reached 200 kPa and maintaining saturation for 24 hours. The results indicated that although the landfill exhibited a collapse at 200 kPa following saturation, the settlements recorded under both dry and submerged conditions remained within acceptable limits for lightweight structures.